... - Eddie Levert Terrie M. Williams Speak Out on Mental Health Cris...WASHINGTON Sept. 28 -- Experts in mentalheal...Eddie Levert for the first time passionately lent his voice andvisi... Black women have always taken care of us -- their men their children...

Eddie Levert, for the first time, passionately lent his voice and
visibility to the cause of mental health in Black America and demonstrated
his commitment to speaking out about the effect of depression as witnessed
and experienced in his family.

"Black women have always taken care of us -- their men, their children,
and their community. I have seen first-hand the damaging effects of
depression, and it's past time we support our women and educate the black
community to recognize depression for what it is -- a medical illness that
is nothing to be ashamed of," said Levert.

According to a survey conducted by Mental Health America, 63 percent of
people in the African American community believe depression is a personal
weakness, while only 31 percent believe it is a medical health problem.

"One thing about black women is that they are survivors," said Rep.
Carson. "But we need to do more than survive -- we need to solve a growing
crisis among black women who remain silent about this disease in an effort
to appear strong. I want black women to find the healing they deserve which
will help our families and communities prosper like never before."

"Black women are significantly impacted by mental health problems and
yet are reluctant to acknowledge that depression is a serious,
biologically-based disease," said Altha Stewart, MD, president of the
American Psychiatric Foundation, a founding member of the Depression Is
Real Coalition. "Depression can be especially devastating because it is
linked to other medical conditions experienced by black women in high
numbers, including obesity, high blood pressure and heart disease. And,
left untreated, depression can be fatal. We need to do all we can to
encourage black women to confront their depression and ensure they get the
health care they need."

-- Black women are twice as more likely to suffer from depression than

black men.

Terrie M. Williams, author of the forthcoming book Black Pain: It Just
Looks Like We're Not Hurting, commented, "My hope is that black women and
all of Black America will take a painfully honest look at a silent killer
in its own community -- depression. The worst part is that we ourselves are
often unaware that we suffer from depression, or - if we know it - too
ashamed to admit it and seek help. And until we address the reality of this
illness, many of us can't begin to tear down the other obstacles that hold
us back."

Panelists addressed a number of issues surrounding mental health and
black women, including health care disparities; depression and its link to
breast cancer; workplace depression; the role of families in mental health
care; as well as the racism, gender bias, poverty, and social disadvantages
women of color experience that can lead to depression and stress.

The Depression Is Real Coalition, a group of seven preeminent medical,
advocacy and civic groups, co-sponsoring today's braintrust, has made it
its mission to dispel popular misconceptions that trivialize one form of
mental illness in particular, depression -- as "just the blues" or dismiss
it entirely as an "imaginary disease." Depression affects more than 19
million Americans per year.

The Depression Is Real public education campaign is sponsored by The
American Psychiatric Foundation (a philanthropic and educational subsidiary
of the American Psychiatric Association), the Depression and Bipolar
Support Alliance, the League of United Latin American Citizens, Mental
Health America, the National Alliance on Mental Illness, the National
Medical Association, the National Urban League and is made possible through
the support of Wyeth.

For more information about depression and the coalition members, and to
see elements of the Depression Is Real public education campaign, visit
http://www.DepressionIsReal.org.

About Terrie M. Williams

Terrie M. Williams is a licensed clinical social worker holding B.A.
and M.S. degrees in her field. She is the founder of The Terrie Williams
Agency, a premier public relations firm, and has served as a trusted and
respected advisor to countless high-profile clients. Terrie's phenomenal
success in both professions and as an author, advocate and mentor with her

Stay Strong Foundation is largely due to her expertise in dealing with
people. Today, she is committed to guiding people in deep emotional pain
onto a path of healing. Her forthcoming, groundbreaking book BLACK PAIN: It
Just Looks Like We're Not Hurting takes an in-depth look at Black America's
depression through the experiences of celebrities, every day people, and
mental health professionals. "BLACK PAIN" will be published on January 8,
2007 (Scribner).

About Eddie Levert

Eddie Levert is a founding member of the pioneering 1970s soul group
and 2005 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductees The O'Jays. The group's
classic hits include "Family Reunion," "Back Stabbers," "I Love Music,"
"For the Love of Money," and the 1971 #1 Billboard hit "Love Train." Eddie
has recorded more than 60 albums and generated 24 top 10 hits. He is a
best-selling co-author of the book I Got Your Back: A Father and Son Keep
It Real About Love, Fatherhood, Family and Friendship along with his dearly
departed son, Gerald.

ABOUT THE DEPRESSION IS REAL COALITION MEMBERS

The American Psychiatric Foundation is a philanthropic and educational
arm of the American Psychiatric Association, the world's leading
psychiatric organization. The mission of the foundation is to advance
understanding that mental illnesses are real and can be effectively
treated.

The Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance (DBSA) is the nation's
leading patient-directed organization focusing on depression and bipolar
disorder. The organization, which has more than 1,000 support groups
nationwide, fosters an understanding about the impact and management of
these life-threatening illnesses by providing up-to-date,
scientifically-based tools and information. Assisted by a 65-member
scientific advisory board, comprised of the leading researchers and
clinicians in the field of mood disorders, DBSA supports research to
promote more timely diagnosis, develop more effective and tolerable
treatments and discover a cure. More than 4 million receive information and
assistance each year.

The League of the United Latin American Citizens is the oldest and
largest Latino civil rights organization in the United States. It advances
the economic conditions, educational attainment, political influence,
health and civil rights of Hispanic Americans through community-based
programs operating at more than 700 LULAC councils nationwide.

The National Alliance on Mental Illness is the nation's largest
grassroots mental health organization dedicated to improving the lives of
individuals and families affected by mental illness. NAMI has over 1,100
affiliates in communities across the country who engage in advocacy,
research, support, and education. Members of NAMI are families, friends,
and people living with mental illnesses such as major depression,
schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), panic
disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and borderline personality
disorder.

The National Medical Association is the nation's oldest and largest
organization representing the interest of more than 30,000 physicians of
African descent.

Mental Health America is the country's oldest and largest nonprofit
organization addressing all aspects of mental health and mental illness.
With more than 340 affiliates nationwide,

MHA works to improve the mental health of all Americans through
advocacy, education, research and service.

Established in 1910, the National Urban League is the nation's oldest
and largest community-based movement devoted to empowering African
Americans to enter the economic and social mainstream. Today, the National
Urban League, headquartered in New York City, spearheads the non-partisan
efforts of its local affiliates. There are over 100 local affiliates of the
National Urban League located in 35 states and the District of Columbia
providing direct services to more than 2 million people nationwide through
programs, advocacy and research.

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